The US Food and Drug Administration recently recalled the third blood pressure medication due to concerns of cancer risk in the last 6 months. Certain lots of Losartan Potassium/Hydrochlorothiazide tablets were recalled in mid-November. This follows an October recall of certain lots of Irbesartan, and an August recall of certain lots of Valsartan.
The recall is due to the presence of an impurity called N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). The International Agency for Research on Cancer lists the substance as a probable human carcinogen, according to the FDA. NDEA “occurs naturally in certain foods, drinking water, air pollution, and industrial processes,” the FDA says.
